Saturday, July 27, 2013

Oura, the third generation

Oura- A Cleric Variant

Unless noted otherwise, the oura is the same as a cleric.

Few people realize that most gods are created and
sustained by belief. The gods themselves
tend to guard this knowledge zealously, but, every so often, a mortal finds
out. The more astute and charismatic of these individuals eventually become
oura.

Oura use sheer force of belief to form their own
proto-gods, or godlings, weak demigods capable of granting their oura powers
similar to those of a cleric. Unlike clerics, however, oura are often
accompanied by their godlings, who, after all, have a vested interest in the
oura’s survival. Without the oura’s persistant belief and persuasive
evangelism, a godling would be reduced to a voice on the wind, and, without the
godling, the oura would be powerless. Together, however, they are a force to be
reckoned with.

Adventures:
Oura see adventuring as a way to get more followers for their godling. Many
oura seek to do this through persuasion, diplomacy, and good works, but others
are not so noble. They find that threats and deceit will often work just as
well.

Characteristics:
An oura practices divine magic, just like a cleric. However, a godling can’t
grant as much power as a fully-fledged god, so an oura casts fewer spells per
day, and can only prepare from a small list of spells. Oura aren’t much good in
combat, but that generally doesn’t matter, as their godling’s manifestation
tends to shield them from most of the fray.

Since building up a godling’s power requires evangelism,
most oura are skilled at dealing with people. They also tend to be well versed
in divine lore.

Alignment: An
oura’s alignment is always the same as his or her godling’s. Oura tend toward chaotic, and are rarely
lawful, because being an oura is all about bending the cosmic rules.

Religion: An
oura only worships his or her godling. Exactly what form this worship takes
depends on his alignment.

Background:
Most oura learn their craft from an experienced oura and his or her godling.
The most important skill an oura acquires during this apprenticeship is the
ability to project a powerful force of belief. This mastery of the mind
requires many years of study. When an oura thinks his apprentice is ready, he
sends him deep into the desert, where the little gods are. Each embryonic
godling is a spark in the air above the desert sands, barely perceivable. The
prospective oura choses one that feels right, and then fixates on it, feeding
it belief and showing it a shape it can become. Thus, the apprenticeship ends,
and a godling is born.

Races: You can
find oura of all races. Those races with more jealous gods are usually less
well represented, as they tend to die before the end of their apprenticeship.

Other classes:
An oura tends to try to get along with everyone. However, clerics tend not to
like them, as they consider the creation of a new god to be irreverent, if not
an outright affront to their god.

Role: Godlings
usually try to shield their oura from combat, and most are more than happy to
extend this protection to other fragile casters. The oura themselves tend to
work to buff and heal other party members, as well as attacking from a
distance, when possible.

Game Rule Information

Oura have the following game statistics.

Table O-1: The Oura

Oura

Spells
per Day

Level

Base
Attack Bonus

Fort
save

Ref Save

Will
save

Special

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1

+0

+0

+0

+2

Godling companion,

First Domain, Favored Weapon

3

0+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

+1

+0

+0

+3

4

1+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

+1

+1

+1

+3

Second Domain

4

1+1

0+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

+2

+1

+1

+4

5

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

+2

+1

+1

+4

5

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

6

+3

+2

+2

+5

Evangelical Leader

5

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-

-

-

7

+3

+2

+2

+5

Third Domain

6

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

-

-

-

-

8

+4

+2

+2

+6

6

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-

-

9

+4

+3

+3

+6

6

3+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

-

-

-

10

+5

+3

+3

+7

6

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

-

11

+5

+3

+3

+7

6

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

-

-

12

+6/+1

+4

+4

+8

6

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

-

13

+6/+1

+4

+4

+8

Fourth Domain

6

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

-

14

+7/+2

+4

+4

+9

6

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

-

15

+7/+2

+5

+5

+9

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

-

16

+8/+3

+5

+5

+10

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

-

17

+8/+3

+5

+5

+10

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

1+1

0+1

18

+9/+4

+6

+6

+11

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

1+1

19

+9/+4

+6

+6

+11

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

2+1

2+1

20

+10/+5

+6

+6

+12

6

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

4+1

3+1

3+1

3+1

3+1

Abilities: An
Oura’s most important skill is charisma, as that determines how powerful his or
her godling is, which, in turn, determines how effective the godling’s
manifestation is in combat, and how many spells the godling knows how to grant
them. Wisdom is also important as, like a cleric, an oura’s wisdom determines
how many extra spells per day the oura gets as well as the spell’s save DC.
High con and dex can prevent dying. Int and strength are less important, as an
oura doesn’t tend to fight directly or use many skills.

A godling’s most important skills tend to be strength,
dex, and con, although much depends on the class and race the godling decides
to manifest as. A godling’s wisdom,
intelligence, and charisma may never be higher than that of the oura who
created it.

Alignment:
Always the same as the oura’s godling.

Hit die: d4

Class Skills

The oura’s class skills, and key abilities for these
skills, also include Bluff(Cha), Disguise(Cha), Gather Information(Cha), Intimidate(Cha),
Perform(Cha), Sense Motive(Wis). Knowledge(history) is not a class skill.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the oura.

Armor and Weapon
Proficiency: Oura are proficient with all simple weapons. They are not
proficient with any type of armor or shield.

Domains: At
first, third, seventh, and thirteenth level, the godling gets a new domain,
giving the oura access to the domain’s spells, and a new domain ability. You
can select an alignment domain only if your godling is that alignment. Each day
at least one of the spells chosen for each level must be a domain spell (that
is what the +1 means).

Godling companion:
The godling manifests as a protector for the oura in order to keep its primary
source of belief from drying up. What form the godling takes depends on the
oura’s level and charisma modifier (see Table O-2: Godling manifestation level),
and the disposition of the godling (a lawful good godling is unlikely to be a
giant spider or a drow). The godling may change its form anytime the maximum
challenge rating goes up, and need not stay the same race or class, or even
age. The basic nature of the godling (alignment, int, cha, wis) is never
altered by the form the godling takes, but its strength, dexterity, and
constitution may be. The godling may not use any spells, spell like abilities,
or supernatural abilities of its form as all its magic is tied up in the oura.
Other than that, its manifestation is the same as that of an ordinary creature
of the same race and class. If the oura
is dead, the godling can no longer manifest. If the godling’s manfestation
dies, the oura may meditate for 24 hours to bring the godling back in a
manifestation <½ CR. It takes another 24 hours of meditation to bring the
godling up to a form with ½ CR, and another 24 hours for ECL 1, and so on and
so forth until the godling’s manifestation reaches full power. So, in all, to
bring the godling back to full power requires one day x the godling’s maximum
challenge rating plus three days. A godling’s manifestation vanishes inside an
antimagic field, and counts against the leadership score of the oura just as an
animal companion, special mount, or familiar would for the purposes of getting
a cohort.

Favored Weapon:
At first level, an oura may choose a favored weapon for his or her godling. The
godling is always proficient with this weapon, and may manifest it along with
his or her chosen form. If the weapon is ranged, ammunition also manifests, or
the weapon automatically reappears in the godling’s hands following being
thrown. If the godling’s maximum manifestation ECL is 3 or above, you may give the
weapon total effective enhancement bonus
equal to the godling’s CR divided by three rounded down, which may
include special abilities. The weapon’s powers cannot change; they may only be
added to. You may choose not to add powers when you can to save up for more
powerful special abilities. You may only choose Holy, Unholy, Anarchic, or Axiomatic
if your godling’s alignment matches.

Turn/rebuke undead: The oura is unable to
turn or rebuke undead.

Table O-2: Godling Manifestation Maximum Effective
Combat Level

Level
of Oura

Oura

Charisma Modifier

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

0 or lower

<½

1

<½

<½

<½

<½

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

2

<½

<½

½

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

3

<½

½

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

4

½

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

5

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

6

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

7 or higher

½

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

½= ½ CR

<1/2 = less than ½ CR

Evangelical
Leader: This feat allows the oura to attract worshippers for their godling.
It counts as the leadership feat for the purposes of taking other feats
(spiritual leader, epic leadership, etc). The oura may not take the leadership
feat in addition to this ability, but may replace this ability by taking the
leadership feat if he or she so wishes. The oura does not get a cohort, ever,
unless he or she takes the leadership feat, but does get worshippers. The
number of worshippers the oura can get is based on the oura’s leadership score,
which is the oura’s level plus his or her charisma modifier, plus any other
modifiers (see table O-3) that might apply. Once you have your oura’s leadership
score, look at Table O-4 to see how many worshippers your oura can attract for
his/her godling. Please note that this is an upper limit, not something you
automatically get. It takes time and effort to acquire worshippers. They are
also just people who worship your godling. They will not necessarily follow all
your orders. For every 20 worshippers gained, you get one first level cleric or
favored soul, or a previous cleric or favored soul may take another level. For
every 30, the godling gets a +1 AC armor bonus.

Table O-3: Modifiers to Leadership Score

Condition

Modifier

Godling or oura as
great renown

+2

Godling or oura as
reputation for fairness and generosity

+1

Godling or oura
has reputation of special power

+1

Godling or oura
has reputation for failure

-1

Oura is aloof

-1

Godling or oura
is cruel

-2

Godling has a
temple

+2

Godling or oura
has caused the death of other followers(per follower killed)